U.S. patent application number 13/816993 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for fluid product dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to APTAR FRANCE SAS. The applicant listed for this patent is Laurent Decottignies, Antoine Lamure. Invention is credited to Laurent Decottignies, Antoine Lamure.
Application Number | 20130193166 13/816993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43836684 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130193166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Decottignies; Laurent ; et
al. |
August 1, 2013 |
FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER
Abstract
A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (1) and a
dispenser member (2), the reservoir (1) comprising a slide cylinder
(11) that is cylindrical, and a follower-piston (14) that includes
at least one lip (16) that is in sliding contact with the cylinder
(11), the slide cylinder (11) being provided with a bottom (12), an
equalizing space (E) being formed between the follower-piston (14)
and the bottom (12), this space (E) communicating with the outside
so as to keep the space (E) at atmospheric pressure, such that,
each time fluid is dispensed, outside air penetrates into the space
(E), which increases as the follower-piston (14) moves away from
the bottom (12); the dispenser being characterized in that a
bacterial filter (F1) filters outside air coming into contact with
the lip (16) of the follower-piston (11) through the equalizing
space (E).
Inventors: |
Decottignies; Laurent;
(Cergy, FR) ; Lamure; Antoine; (Bosguerard de
Marcouville, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Decottignies; Laurent
Lamure; Antoine |
Cergy
Bosguerard de Marcouville |
|
FR
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
APTAR FRANCE SAS
Le Neubourg
FR
|
Family ID: |
43836684 |
Appl. No.: |
13/816993 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 23, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2011/051949 |
371 Date: |
April 4, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/189.09 ;
222/256; 222/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0033 20130101;
B05B 11/007 20130101; B05B 11/3032 20130101; B05B 11/3047 20130101;
B05B 11/00444 20180801; B05B 11/00416 20180801; B05B 11/00446
20180801; B65D 47/2081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/189.09 ;
222/256; 222/386 |
International
Class: |
B05B 11/00 20060101
B05B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2010 |
FR |
1056775 |
Claims
1. A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (1), and a
dispenser member (2), such as a pump or a valve, that is mounted on
the reservoir (1) for taking fluid therefrom, the reservoir (1)
comprising a slide cylinder (11) that is cylindrical, and a
follower-piston (14) that is movable by sliding inside the slide
cylinder (11), the follower-piston (14) including at least one lip
(16) that is in sliding contact with the cylinder (11), the slide
cylinder (11) being provided with a bottom (12) that is arranged
remote from the dispenser member (2), an equalizing space (E) being
formed between the follower-piston (14) and the bottom (12), this
space (E) communicating with the outside so as to keep the space
(E) at atmospheric pressure, such that, each time fluid is
dispensed, outside air penetrates into the space (E), which
increases as the follower-piston (14) moves away from the bottom
(12); wherein a bacterial filter (F4; F5) filters outside air
coming into contact with the lip (16) of the follower-piston (11)
through the equalizing space (E); the dispenser being characterized
in that the bacterial filter (F4; F5) is secured to the
follower-piston (14).
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the bacterial filter
(F4; F5) is arranged in the space (E).
3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the bacterial filter
(F4) fills, at least in part, the space (E) at the start of the
stroke of the follower-piston (14).
4. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the follower-piston
(14) includes a top sealing lip (16) that is in sliding contact
with the cylinder (11) and a bottom lip that is provided with
grooves (161) such that the space (E) extends to between the two
lips of the follower-piston (14), and the annular space situated
between the slide cylinder (11) and the lips of the follower-piston
(14) is filled, at least in part, with a bacterial filter (F5).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser
comprising a fluid reservoir, and a dispenser member, such as a
pump or a valve, that is mounted on the reservoir for taking fluid
therefrom. The reservoir comprises a slide cylinder and a
follower-piston that is movable by sliding inside the cylinder, the
cylinder and the piston thereby co-operating with each other to
constitute a working volume for storing the fluid. The working
volume decreases as the follower-piston moves inside the cylinder.
In general, the follower-piston includes at least one lip,
otherwise two, in substantially leaktight sliding contact with the
cylinder. In addition, the cylinder is provided with a bottom that
is arranged remote from the dispenser member. An equalizing space
is thus formed between the follower-piston and the bottom, this
space communicating with the outside so as to keep the space E at
atmospheric pressure, such that, each time fluid is dispensed,
outside air penetrates into the space, which increases as the
follower-piston moves away from the bottom. This design is entirely
conventional in the field of cosmetics. However, this type of
dispenser may also be used in other fields, such as the fields of
pharmacy and of perfumery, for example.
[0002] This type of reservoir, having a slide cylinder and a
follower-piston, is generally associated with a dispenser member of
the airless type, i.e. without any air inlet, such that the fluid
stored inside the reservoir never comes into contact with the
outside air via the dispenser member.
[0003] In theory, the follower-piston slides inside the slide
cylinder in completely leaktight manner, such that outside air
cannot penetrate into the reservoir between the slide cylinder and
the follower-piston. However, in practice, it turns out that the
sliding contact between the follower-piston and the cylinder is not
completely or sufficiently leaktight, and this may be for many
reasons. For example, the surface quality of the slide cylinder is
not always good, and presents a certain amount of irregularity,
roughness, or unevenness over which the follower-piston passes,
locally without leaktight contact. In other situations, the lip of
the follower-piston does not make it possible to provide effective
sealing with the slide cylinder. In still other situations, the
movement of the follower-piston inside the cylinder is not
completely axial, such that the lip lifts off from the slide
cylinder at certain points. All of those situations lead to outside
air penetrating into the reservoir between the follower-piston and
the slide cylinder. Naturally, the quantities of air that penetrate
into the reservoir are very small, but they are sometimes enough to
spoil, modify, or deteriorate the fluid.
[0004] In the prior art, documents WO 2009/109370 and EP 2 251 093
describe fluid dispensers including a reservoir that defines a
cylindrical slide cylinder inside which a follower piston is
slidably engaged. At its bottom end, the slide cylinder is closed
by a separate bottom that defines a through hole that is closed by
a bacterial filter. As the follower piston moves, the space between
the filter and the follower piston increases and bacteria may
develop despite the remote filter.
[0005] An object of the invention is to remedy the drawback of the
prior art that is associated with a failure of the dynamic sealing
between the follower-piston and the slide cylinder.
[0006] To do this, the present invention makes provision for the
bacterial filter to be secured to the follower-piston. The
bacterial filter, that may also be referred to as bactericidal,
bacteriostatic, or antibacterial, has the function of allowing
outside air to penetrate into the equalizing space while
eliminating bacteria or preventing them from penetrating into the
equalizing space with the air. The bacterial filter blocks and/or
kills bacteria and any other organism that is capable of
deteriorating the fluid contained in the reservoir. The bacterial
filter may fill, at least in part, the equalizing space as defined
at the start of the stroke of the follower-piston.
[0007] The spirit of the invention is to create a barrier against
bacteria that are carried by outside coming into contact with the
lip of the follower-piston. This antibacterial barrier is placed
inside the equalizing space that is formed between the
follower-piston and the bottom, in contact with the follower
piston.
[0008] In an embodiment, the follower-piston includes a top sealing
lip that is in sliding contact with the cylinder and a bottom lip
that is provided with grooves such that the space extends to
between the two lips of the follower-piston, and the annular space
situated between the slide cylinder and the lips of the
follower-piston is filled, at least in part, with a bacterial
filter.
[0009] The invention is described more fully below with reference
to the accompanying drawings, which show several embodiments of the
invention by way of non-limiting example.
IN THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is a vertical section view through a fluid dispenser
in a first embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a larger-scale view of the bottom portion of the
FIG. 1 dispenser;
[0012] FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIG. 2 showing second and
third embodiments respectively;
[0013] FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 2 showing fourth and
fifth embodiments respectively;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a vertical section view through another fluid
dispenser incorporating a sixth embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a larger-scale view of the bottom portion of the
FIG. 7 dispenser; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a seventh
embodiment of the invention.
[0017] Reference is made firstly to FIG. 1 in order to describe in
detail the structure of a fluid dispenser that is suitable for
incorporating a bacterial filter in accordance with the invention.
The dispenser comprises a fluid reservoir 1 on which there is
mounted a dispenser member 2. The fluid reservoir 1 defines a
working volume 10 that is filled with fluid, e.g. a cream. The
dispenser member 2 is in communication with the fluid of the
working volume 10 via an inlet that is provided with an inlet valve
25. When the valve 25 is open, the working volume 10 communicates
with a pump chamber 26 that is provided with a deformable actuator
wall 23. By pressing on the actuator wall 23, the volume of the
chamber 26 decreases, thereby causing the inlet valve 25 to close
and an outlet valve to open in such a manner as to define an outlet
passage for the fluid through a dispenser orifice 27. The dispenser
member 2 is a particular type of pump that is not critical to the
present invention. It is possible to fit any type of dispenser
member, such as a pump, a valve, or another type of dispenser
endpiece, on the reservoir without going beyond the ambit of the
invention, given that the dispenser member is not at the core of
the invention. However, it is preferable for the dispenser member
to be of the airless type, i.e. without any air inlet, so as to
avoid any outside air being introduced into the reservoir through
the dispenser member.
[0018] The fluid reservoir 1 comprises a slide cylinder 11 that
presents a shape that is generally cylindrical, e.g. circularly
cylindrical. At its top end, the cylinder 11 defines a neck 15 for
receiving the dispenser member 2 in stationary and leaktight
manner. The cylinder 11 contains a follower-piston 14 that is for
sliding in substantially leaktight manner inside the cylinder 11.
In this embodiment, the follower-piston 14 includes two dynamic
sealing lips 16 that come into sliding contact with the inside of
the cylinder 11. When the dispenser member 2 is actuated by
squeezing the actuator wall 23, the follower-piston 14 remains in
place in the cylinder 11. In contrast, when the pressure on the
actuator wall 23 is relaxed, suction is created inside the chamber
26, thereby causing the inlet valve 25 to open and suction to be
communicated to the inside of the working volume 10. In response,
the follower-piston 14 moves by suction, causing its two annular
lips 16 to slide along the cylinder 11. In this way, the working
volume 10 of the reservoir decreases progressively as the fluid is
extracted therefrom by the dispenser member 2. This technique is
entirely conventional for making a reservoir of variable working
volume for associating with an airless dispenser member. The
follower-piston 14 constitutes a movable wall of the reservoir that
moves when subjected to suction. The follower-piston 14 may present
any shape as long as it performs its function. The FIG. 1
follower-piston 14 includes two sealing lips 16: however, it is
possible to imagine a follower-piston that includes a single
sealing lip only.
[0019] The slide cylinder 11 is also provided with a bottom 12 that
is arranged remotely from the neck 15 that receives the dispenser
member 2. In this embodiment, the bottom 12 is made integrally with
the cylinder 11, but it is also possible to envisage using a bottom
12 that is fitted on the cylinder 11. The bottom 12 thus closes the
cylinder 11 and co-operates with the follower-piston 14 to define
an equalizing space E. More precisely, in this embodiment, the
equalizing space E is defined by the bottom 12, a small portion of
the slide cylinder 11, and the follower-piston 14. In order to
enable the follower-piston 14 to move in the cylinder 11 when
subjected to suction, it is necessary for the equalizing space E to
be subjected to atmospheric pressure at all times. To do this, it
is necessary to put the equalizing space E into communication with
the outside, e.g. via a hole 13 formed in the bottom 12.
[0020] In the invention, the hole 13 in the bottom 12 is provided
with a filter assembly 5 that includes a support collar 51
associated with a fastener bushing 52. The collar 51 and the
bushing 52 are hollow so as to define a through passage 53. The
support collar 51 is used for mounting a bacterial filter F1 that
allows air to pass, but that eliminates and/or kills bacteria. By
way of example, the bacterial filter F1 may be constituted by a
bacteriostatic filter membrane that is permeable to air. As can be
seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the filter assembly 5 is mounted on
the bottom 12, with the support collar 51 arranged inside the space
E, and the fastener bushing 52 inserted in the hole 13 formed in
the bottom 12. Thus, outside air may penetrate into the equalizing
space E through the through passage 53 and its bacterial filter F1.
The air penetrating into the space E is thus filtered, i.e. freed
of bacteria that might be in suspension in the air. An equalizing
space E is thus obtained that is filled with air that is free from
bacteria. In this way, the air contained in the space E does not in
any way risk contaminating, deteriorating, or spoiling the fluid
contained in the working volume 10 in the event of a leak between
the slide cylinder 11 and the lips 16 of the follower-piston
14.
[0021] In the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bacterial filter F1
is incorporated in a filter assembly 5 that may be put into place
easily, merely by inserting into the hole 13 in the bottom 12. The
bacterial filter F1 is thus arranged inside the space E between the
bottom and the follower-piston.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment in which a bacterial filter
F2 is arranged and mounted directly in a hole 13 that is formed in
the bottom 12. The bacterial filter F2 may be of the same type as
the bacterial filter F1, i.e. a membrane that is permeable to air
and that possesses bactericidal qualities. It should be observed
that the bottom 12 in FIG. 3 is a fitted bottom, unlike the bottom
12 in FIGS. 1 and 2. To do this, the bottom 12 comprises a bottom
wall 121 and a fastener ring 122 that is engaged around a skirt 112
that is formed at the bottom end of the slide cylinder 11.
Naturally, it is necessary for the contact between the ring 122 and
the skirt 112 to be leaktight, so as to prevent any introduction of
bacteria-carrying outside air. In this way, the only air that can
penetrate into the space E is the air that passes through the
bacterial filter F2 situated in the hole 13. The bacterial filter
F2 may be adhesively-bonded, heat-sealed, or molded on the bottom
12. The same applies for the bacterial filter F1.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment in which the bottom 12 is
also a fitted bottom, substantially similar to the bottom in FIG.
3. However, the bottom wall 121 of the bottom 12 does not include
any holes. However, the equalizing space E communicates with the
outside through an air passage that is formed between the ring 122
and the skirt 112. By way of example, it is possible to provide
crenellation 113 at the bottom edge of the skirt 112, and internal
splines 123 at the ring. Thus, Air may communicate with the outside
through the crenellation 113 and between the splines 123. In the
invention, a bacterial filter F3 of annular shape is arranged in
the air passage between the skirt 112 and the ring 122. All of the
air that penetrates into the space E is thus obliged to pass
through the bacterial filter F3. By way of example, the filter may
be molded on the cylinder 11 or on the bottom 12. Assembling the
bottom 12 on the cylinder 11 does not create any complication. The
air in contact with the lips 16 is thus guaranteed to be free of
bacteria.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment in which the bottom 12 is
made integrally with the cylinder 11 and includes a through hole
13. In this embodiment, some or all of the equalizing space E is
filled with a bacteriostatic material that is porous and permeable
to air. By way of example, the material may be injected into the
space E through the hole 13. In a variant, it may be arranged at
the bottom of the cylinder 11 before the follower-piston is engaged
therein. The bacterial filter F4 may be secured to the bottom 12,
or, in contrast, to the follower-piston 14. Either way, the air
arriving at the lips 16 is guaranteed to be free of bacteria.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment in which the follower-piston
14 includes only one sealing lip 16 at the top that is in sliding
contact with the cylinder 11. Its bottom lip is provided with
grooves 161, such that the space E extends to between the two lips
of the follower-piston 14. In the invention, some or all of the
annular space situated between the slide cylinder 11 and the lips
of the follower-piston is filled with a bacterial filter F5 that,
by way of example, may present the same characteristics as the
characteristics of the filter F4 in FIG. 5. It is thus possible to
guarantee that the top sealing lip 16 does not come into contact
with air that contains bacteria.
[0026] FIG. 7 shows a fluid dispenser comprising a reservoir 1
associated with a dispenser member 2. The dispenser member 2 is a
conventional pump that is mounted in stationary and leaktight
manner on the neck 15 of the reservoir. The dispenser member 2 is
provided with a pusher 3 that defines a dispenser orifice 31.
Optionally, the dispenser includes a protective cap 4 that come to
cover the dispenser member 2. As with the FIG. 1 dispenser, the
fluid reservoir 1 comprises a slide cylinder 11 that is associated
with a follower-piston 14 in such a manner as to define a working
volume 10 of capacity that varies. The slide cylinder 11 is
provided with a bottom 12 so as to define a confinement space E
between the bottom 12 and the follower-piston 14. With reference to
FIG. 8, it can be seen that the bottom 12 is received by
snap-fastening in a housing 114 that is formed at the bottom end of
the cylinder 11. In the invention, the bottom 12 is constituted by
a rigid bacteriostatic porous material, such that it can be said
that the bottom 12 constitutes a bacterial filter F6. It is not
necessary to make any holes in the bottom 12. The lips 16 of the
follower-piston 14 may come into contact only with air that is
bacteria free.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment in which the bottom 12 is
perforated with a plurality of holes 13 and includes a layer of
bacteriostatic porous material on its face facing the equalizing
space E. In the meaning of the invention, this layer constitutes a
bacterial filter F7. The filter F7 occupies a portion of the
confinement space E. By way of example, it may be deposited on, or
applied to, the bottom 12 using any technique, before said bottom
is mounted in the cylinder 11. In a variant, it is possible to
envisage depositing the filter on the outer face of the bottom.
[0028] The characteristics implemented in the various embodiments
may be associated with one another in order to create other
embodiments.
[0029] However, the various embodiments shown in the figures
present a common characteristic whereby the air that comes into
contact with the sealing lip(s) of the follower-piston is freed
from bacteria by a bacterial filter that may be secured either to
the bottom or to the follower-piston.
* * * * *